I’m using a heavy duty outdoor extension cord with an above ground pool. How can I protect it?
I have an Intex pool for the kids with a short cord. I need to use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord for the filter. I don’t like leaving that laying on the lawn with dew and rain and everything. Can I put it in some kind of conduit? I do not run the filter when anyone is in the pool, just in case. I do have an outdoor GFI-protected outlet. I’m sure I’m not the only one doing this!! Thanks!
Dig an 18" deep trench from your gfi over to the filter. set a post by the filter. Get some grey plastic conduit and some #12 strand wire of the length you need in Black, white and green. You will need some 90 degree turns and connectors as well. Put a new box with a gfi on the post and connect the 2 then bury. Quite easy to do.
You have a couple of options. You can either rerun the cable in steel wire armored .This can be run on the surface and will offer adequate protection but obviously this requires aqualified ellectrician.
the best option for you is probably to run your cable inside whats is known as flexible conduit or trade name KOPEX. you can get this from most good electrical wholesalers.
Bury it
I sometimes used a portable sump-pump actually laying the “good body” (not the connecting ends) of a bright orange heavy-duty extension cord actually in a puddle of water for hours draining the gravel drive during heavy rains.
To prevent accidental disconnections of the ends pulling or tripping over the cord, use an over-hand knot, much like a “strain relief” using the cable itself at the connection, if using another extension cord, or just at the termination point. (I’m thinking of a short “pigtail” on the filter motor). To protect the pool itself, try having the cable with about a two foot loop acting as a relief in the event of someone tripping on the cord. I would take plastic garbage can cover over the connections sheltering them from the rain and on high ground. The best thing is to bury a cable for a swimming pool so no one has a chance of a shock though. You might want to ask some one first at Ace or Lowe’s what to do.
If using a light extension cord, the resistance goes up and the electrical life goes down and one day the motor doesn’t work anymore.
Bob
less than trenching, place a drip loop at the end of the connections to avoid water entering the connections.
however there are more secure ways of doing this if you want work and have it done right & safe!!!
No problem, just dig a trench and lay un some pvc conduit with 90 elbows at each end and pull the extension through it. Just remember if it goes underground the cable HAS to be listed water resistant otherwise it will corrode. Why not just put it on a retractible cord spool and pull it out when using it? $30 bucks and no digging!!!!
Answer: Ensure your cord doesn’t have a long run only use an extension cord about 10 to 15 ft. Should be heavy duty cord. Put in into 1" PVC Pipe dig a hole in the ground to your pool pump. from were you plug the cord in to run power too your pool. Dig it down about 4" run the cord through the PVC pipe and then bury it in the ground.
cover it with electrical tape and then duct tape. I have had christmas lights on my evergreens for 2 years now and that is what I did, and they still light up even through the snow , rain , hail, and the heat. It keeps it dry, and protected from the elements
I run the cord through a piece of pvc pipe in the main traffic area, so noone will run over it with a lawnmower. Otherwise, an outdoor cord is safe even if wet, because that is why it was made (for outdoors).